The image on the light screen faded, and new lines of text appeared:
[Herta opened the Simulated Universe and showed you the sole legacy of your Aeon form.]
[You discovered an incomprehensible and chaotic string of bytes, but within the Simulated Universe, this string of bytes loaded to become a silver-white longsword.]
[It was thrust into the ground, its silver-white blade suffused with a golden-white holy light. Within that divine light seemed to lie a sliver of an extremely resolute will, making the sword look like the legendary holy sword in the stone.]
[It is said that whoever pulls out the sword in the stone shall be king. Although this is just a story from a book, something similar is not impossible in reality...]
[While you won't have a round table council announcing the unsealing of your power for a world-saving war, this holy sword belonging to [Salvation] Ron is absolutely worthy of its title as the blade of the [Salvation] Aeon.]
[You entered the Simulated Universe once more and pulled out the holy sword. You found a boundless courage enveloping your body, a heroic spirit strengthening your will. A radiant holy light ignited on the blade, and an endless stream of power was born within you.]
[But you know a certain fact—the [Salvation] Aeon, Ron, is already dead. There is a deep partition between each block of the Simulated Universe. Each block is its own cosmos, and the events that occurred in that experimental block will not be replayed in others.]
[In other words, in this cosmic block, no [Salvation] Aeon ever forged the Path of [Salvation], much less bestowed any power...]
[This holy sword has brought you unimaginable power, but why?]
[You and Herta conducted extremely detailed research on it and were stunned to discover a very strange reality—]
[Just as you thought, without the blessing of the Path of [Salvation], the holy sword did not possess the power of [Salvation].]
[However, as a special creation that manifested when an Aeon forged a Path, it inherently possessed a very wondrous property.
Whoever wields this longsword will be influenced by this property. Their body will undergo various physiological reactions that suppress negative emotions and enhance their strength. It also modifies the creature's own physiological mechanisms, allowing them to gain an innate ability to release a "holy light" enchantment.
Weapons enveloped by this holy light will shine to illuminate the darkness and will cause enemies struck by the holy light to burn. It is a very peculiar and special ability.]
---o---
Reading the text on the screen, Ron found this longsword rather interesting.
If the Path of [Salvation] truly existed in this world, then whoever held this sword would be equivalent to a Pathstrider who had just begun their journey on that Path, right?
However, they wouldn't be a true Pathstrider of [Salvation]. They would just be cleverly using the sword's properties to influence their body, exhibiting traits similar to one.
It was a pity this was merely a false product of the Simulated Universe. Although this power could be infinitely replicated within the simulation, there was no such holy sword in reality, making it impossible to borrow its strength.
Besides, even if one existed, there could only be one. Such a power was meaningless, far too insignificant in the face of the coming tide of [Destruction]...
Ron sighed helplessly. The text on the screen in front of him continued to scroll:
[You and Herta finished your experiments on the holy sword. You attempted to replicate the string of bytes and extract it from the Simulated Universe.]
[You have obtained the item: "Fragment of Salvation (Red)"]
[Fragment of Salvation: Fate gripped [Salvation] by the neck. He perished, and His Path vanished, leaving only that resolute will to be passed down through the world forever.
This will is so firm, yet so simple—this string of bytes is the most resolute will of [Salvation], the noble conviction born from the heart of a human facing a desperate future.
"The sea of stars pours in, the world crumbles, darkness is coming... Yet [Salvation] does not cease, and the fire in the heart does not extinguish." —[Salvation] Aeon · Ron.]
Wait a minute... that's not right. What was this? A string of bytes?
Looking at the item description, Ron discovered a blind spot. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly froze, a slightly crazy idea coming to mind...
Why couldn't this power be borrowed... And why was this power insignificant?
Although this string of bytes manifested as a holy sword in the Simulated Universe, its essence was nothing more than a piece of information. That's all.
Since it could affect a person's body in the simulation, causing it to exhibit traits similar to a Pathstrider of [Salvation], then if it could be made to exist within a living creature's body, could that creature permanently possess this power?
If this replicable piece of information could be made to exist within a person, and then be copied countless times...
Then, what changes would occur if this string of bytes was forcibly inserted into the genome?
If it succeeded...
Perhaps the tide of [Destruction], due to arrive in a while, might not be impossible to resist.
Ron suppressed the small stir of excitement growing in his heart and clicked the screen, allowing the simulation to continue.
---o---
The text on the light screen faded, and a new scene appeared:
Standing in Herta's lab, Herta looked at a light cone in her hand. A speck of light was sealed within it, representing the longsword from the Simulated Universe, representing that special string of bytes.
She stood with her hands on her hips, tilting her head up to hold the light cone before her eyes. The light from her office refracted through it, scattering into random patterns.
"Is my tech still not up to par? The Garden of Recollection's technology really isn't so simple, is it..."
For the first time, Herta showed a somewhat troubled expression.
"I thought that by imprinting this string of bytes into Memoria, it could bestow the power of the bytes, just like the light cones from the Garden of Recollection. I didn't expect the bytes to just be perfectly imprinted and sealed within the Memoria, without behaving like a light cone at all..."
She shrugged helplessly and placed the light cone in Ron's hand.
"If even this doesn't work, then I'm completely out of ideas. Although I really don't want to give up researching the only thing you left behind after becoming an Aeon, I truly have exhausted all my methods."
"Such a short string of bytes, useless even on a light cone, and no starting point for research. Maybe we need to find a new direction... Hey, are you listening?"
"Sorry, I zoned out..."
Ron snapped back to reality. Seeing Herta looking at him unhappily with her hands on her hips, he scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Zoned out?" Herta paused. "Then what did you think of?"
"I did think of something..." Ron said, then changed the subject. "Let's put this byte string aside for a moment. Herta, do you know about gene-splicing technology?"
"Gene splicing?"
Herta was stunned. "That kind of technology seems to only be researched in-depth by the Xianzhou Alliance and the Denizens of Abundance. I did look into it before, though, and did some simple research. But I lost interest after I figured out how to splice genes. The data should still be in the space station's databank..."
As she spoke, a realization seemed to dawn on her. Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Ron as if she had seen a ghost.
"...Wait, what are you trying to do?"
"If even Memoria can't manifest the power of these bytes, then splicing them into a genome to create a modified human is also impossible!"
"How can you say it's impossible without trying?"
Ron smiled at Herta, a fiery passion burning in his eyes.
"Whether it can succeed or not, we have to try first... As Pathstriders of [Erudition], we are always on the path of trying and seeking knowledge, aren't we?"
The scene on the light screen faded, and new text appeared:
[You proposed a new direction to Herta—since this is just a short string of bytes, is it possible to splice it into the human genome, directly modifying the human body to grant them the power of [Salvation] forever?]
[Herta did not agree with this research direction. She believed that this byte string was not genetic information and could not be spliced into a genome, nor could it possibly bring about those special powers.]
[The final result would only be a lump of protein from genetic collapse, a twisted mass of "life."]
[But you told her that you were running out of time. In the attempt to become an Aeon in the simulation, you foresaw that the tide of [Destruction] was about to sweep in. You must have a power to stop it, and this string of bytes was your greatest chance. You could not give up trying.]
[Herta's expression grew serious at your words. As an Emanator of [Erudition], she had a faint understanding of the world's reality... Since you were about to face such a crisis, she had no reason to stop you.]
[She immediately granted you access to the Herta Space Station's databank and found the research records on gene splicing in the Genetics Department archives for your reference. She also gave you the highest level of clearance for the Genetics Department, allowing you to command its staff as you pleased.]
[She would also personally participate, accompanying you in this attempt to complete your experimental plan.]
[You have acquired the technology: "Gene Splicing (Gold)."]
[Gene Splicing: The gene-splicing tools support you in modifying the genes of living organisms. You have lifted a small corner of the mystery of life's origin.]
The text on the screen gradually faded, and a new option box appeared:
[This wondrous string of bytes, which exists as the sword of the [Salvation] Aeon, has become a source of frustration for you and Herta, as you can find no way to utilize it in reality.]
[But a flash of inspiration strikes you, and an almost blasphemous idea appears before you—]
[If this string of bytes were loaded into the human genome, would the modified human gain its power?]
[Standing in the laboratory of the Herta Space Station's Genetics Department, you are faced with a small choice—]
[Do you really want to cross this forbidden line and begin to design the very essence of humanity?]
[Right now, there might still be a chance to back down.]
[Please choose—]
[1. This kind of experiment is still too dangerous...
Control over the essence of life belongs to the domain of the gods; only Aeons have the right to touch it... This is the domain of authority for Aeons like [The Abundance] Yaoshi, [The Propagation] Tayzzyronth, and [The Permanence] Long. For a mortal to touch their domain, unless one is a Pathstrider on their Path, how could one achieve anything and still retreat unscathed?
There is no need to forcefully pursue such a dangerous experiment. Perhaps we should look for another power to resist the tide of [Destruction]...
Selecting this option, you will ultimately abandon this research direction and instead seek new ways to strengthen yourself and your civilization with Herta's help, to resist the coming Fated Calamity.]
[2. Natural evolution is slow and inefficient. How is designing a path for evolution dangerous?
You have already ascended to the throne of an Aeon in the Simulated Universe... You no longer hold the same reverence for Aeons as if gazing at a distant mountaintop.
Knowledge is not dangerous; only the use of knowledge can bring danger. You will not abandon your research direction, nor will you give up the power that is almost within your grasp.
Selecting this option, you will begin your research with the help of Herta and the staff of the Genetics Department. You will trigger the project: "Controlled Evolution."
Because Herta has conducted some research on this project before, the project begins with 50% completion.
Furthermore, with the help of Herta and the Genetics Department staff, your research speed is increased by 1000%, and your research success rate is increased to 100%.]
---o---
Looking at the options, Ron chose the second one without hesitation.
Enough was enough. [Destruction] was practically at his doorstep. Who had time to worry about whether a technology was dangerous or not?
Even if this tech would instantly cause people to be affected by [The Abundance] and turn into Denizens of Abundance, Ron felt it didn't matter... As long as they could survive first, any side effects could be dealt with after the crisis passed.
Otherwise, when Jarilo-VI was burned to ashes by the Antimatter Legion, everything would be over for good!
With this mindset, Ron watched as the option box on the screen faded, and new lines of text appeared:
[You have chosen to stand by your idea and continue this research, which could be considered a blasphemy against life.]
[With the help of Herta and the staff of the Genetics Department, and by utilizing species iteration within the Simulated Universe, you easily completed this research in just two or three days.]
[The completion of the project "Controlled Evolution" has increased drastically. The project completion is now—100%.]
[You have acquired the technology: "Controlled Evolution (Red)."]
[Controlled Evolution: Natural evolution has always been described by a simple and crude word: failure.
Today, we will personally define success.]